Centrifugal pump with self-centering runner



NW. 13,1923@ .v flw m W. R. WOOCK ET AL CENTRIFUGAL PUMP WITH SELFCENTERING RUNNER Fi led Oct. 26. 1921 INVENTORS WRJ/WMR H J, VVaaq/E:

Patented Nov. R35, 1923.

can fires earns-tr WALTER R. WOOCK, HERBERT J. WOOCK, AND ERIC M. WOOCK,OF LODI, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFLODI, CALIFORNIA,

CORPORATION.

OENTRIIFUGAL PUMP WITH SELF-CENTERING RUNNER.

Application filed October 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, XVALTER R. WoooK, HERBERT J. VVoooK, and ERIC M.WoooK, citizens of the United States, residing at Lodi, county of SanJoaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Centrifugal Pumps with Self-Centering Runners; and we dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to thecharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisapplication.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps, and isparticularly intended as an improvement over that type of pump shown inour co-pending applica tion for patent on apackless pump filed June18th, 1921, Serial No. 478,521.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide. in additionto the features of construction shown in the above mentionedapplication. means for positively causing the runner to be centrallybalanced under all conditions of operation, regardless of whetherthevacuum pressure is greater than the water pressure or vice versa.

lVe have also provided hand controlled means for quickly and easilyadjusting or controlling the balancing of the" runner to suit differentconditions of operation, without altermg the construction of one pumpover another in any way, and without necessarily stopping the pump to doso.

A further object is to arrange for a water seal at the intake or suctionend of the pump between the suction and pressure sides of the runnerthereby preventing sand or other abrasive matter being drawn between thebearing of the runner and casing, which of course wears away the bearinsurfaces of the runner and casing and destroys the efficiency of thepump.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposeswhich it is designed.

These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of Serial No. 510,503.

reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the pump.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the same taken on a line in a similarbut odset plane from Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the numeral 1 denotes the casing of the pump provided with theusual discharge and pressure chamber 2, and intake opening 3.

Fixed onto the end of the casing opposite theintake is a cap 4C havingan outwardly projecting hub 5 in which are fitted hearing sleeves 6forming journals for the pump shaft 7 on the inner end of which is arunner member 8, comprising a pair of walls 9 and 10 adjacent the capand opposite face of the casing respectively, and transversely disposedvanes 11", this runner having a central intakes opening 12 in alinementwith and adjacent the casing intake 3, and being arra'nged to dischargethe water into the chamber 2. The construction and arrangement of partsthus far described is sub stantially the same as shown in theaforementioned application.

The face of the wall 9 adjacent the cap 4 is provided with an annulargroove 13, concentric with the shaft 7, into which groove a flange 14formed with the cap projects with an easy running fit.

Intermediate the groove 13 and the plane of the outer periphery of thebearing 6 is another groove 15 in the wall 9, concentric with the shaft7, to which groove a water passage 16 leads from the chamber 2, with ahand regulated control valve 17 interposed therein (see Fig. 2), ascreen 18 being placed in the passageway between the valve and chamber2.

Positioned outwardly of the groove 13 and formed with the wall 9 is anannular flange 19, projecting into a groove 20 formed in the cap 3.These members might be reversed in position, except that at this pointthe wall 9 is too thin to allow of a groove of any depth being cuttherein.

Positioned between the flanges 14 and 19, and formed and, enclosedbetween the wall 9 and cap 3, is an annular chamber 21, whose face areaadjacent the wall 9 is preferably aoout 8% greater than that of heintake openings 3 or 12. A water passage way 22 leads to this chamberfrom the pressure chamber 2, which passage has a hand actuated controlvalve 23 interposed therein similtr to the valve 17.

The chamber 21 also communicates with the vacuum chamber of the runner 8through the medium of holes 24 therebetwecn.

groove or chamber 15 has been already set forth in the co-pendingapplication aforementioned; so we will here confine ourselves to showinghow the runner may be perfectly and adjustably balanced for allconditions of operation. In operation, owing to the relative size of theareas 3 and 21, the runner will be drawn toward the shaft end of thepump under all conditions of vacuum and pressure.

By proper manipulation of the valves 17 and 23, the runner may beaccurately balanced and centered under any and all conditions, and topermit of this, the runner and its sundry flanges and grooves aresufliciently spaced from the corresponding members of the cap andcasing, to allow a certain amount of lateral play of the runner.

If working with a very high vacuum, the valve 17 alone is opened,throwing pressure into the annular chamber 15, and thus causing therunner to be thrust toward the intake, the intensity of this thrustdepending on the extent to which. the valve is opened. In this case, thevalve 23 is not opened, since this would tend to weaken the vacuum inthe chamber 21 and runner, which is'not desirable. With a low vacuum anda high pressure, or with a low vacuum and low pressure, both valves areused, being adjusted so as to bring the runner into perfect balancewhile running.

It is to be noted that while under some conditions, the valve 23 is notused, the valve 17 is always open, if only slightly, in order to givethe water-film or pressure bearing for the pump shaft.

The intake end of the runner terminates in a flange 25, formed with thewall 10, and which bears against the casing witha running fit. The innersurface of this flange is covered by a sleeve,i26, fixed onto thecasing, and thus making with the casing an enclosed and annular groovein which the flange fits, thus providing a water seal joint whichprevents the suction at the in take from exerting any influence tendingto draw any water, and likewise any sand etc. in suspensiontherewith,between the easing and runner walls and between the hearing surfaces ofthese two members at the intake end.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a deparature from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A centrifugal pump comprising a casing, a runner turnably mountedtherein, and a pair of annular and concentric chambers separated fromeach other and formed between the runner and the casing on the sidethereof opposite .to the intake of the pump, one ofsaid chamberscommunicating with the vacuum chamber of the runner and both chamberscommunicating with the pressure chamber of the pump.

2. A centrifugal. pump comprising a casing, a runner turnably mountedtherein, and a pair of annular and concentric chambers separated fromeach other and formed between the runner and the casing on the sidethereof opposite to the intake of the pump, one of said chamberscommunicating with the vacuum chamber of the runner and both chamberscommunicating with the pressure chamber of the pump, and sealingwallmeans on both sides of the first named chamber concentric therewith.

3. A centrifugal pump comprising :3. casing, a runner turnably mountedtherein, and a pair of annular and concentric chambers separated fromeach other and formed between the runner and the casing on the sidethereof opposite to the intake of the pump, one of said chamberscommunicating with the vacuum chamber'of the runner and both'chamberscommunicating with the pressure chamber of the pump, and sealing wallmeans between the chambers and between the first named chamber and thepressure chamber of the pump, said first named chamber being outwardlyof the other chamber relative to the axis of the pump.

1. A centrifugal pump comprising a casing, a runner turnably mountedtherein, a pair. of annular and concentric chambers formed between therunner and the casing on the side thereof opposite to the intake of thepump, one of said chambers communicating with the vacuum chamber of therunner and both said chambers communi- 1 eating with the vacuum chamberof the run-' ner, an independent water passageway lead- 1 ing to eachchamber from the pressure chamber of the pump, and hand controlled Valvemeans interposed in each passageway.

In testimony whereof We ailix our signatures.

\VALTER R. \VOOCK. HER-BERT J. WOOCK.

ERIC M. VVOOCK.

